Touring Old and New

My wife's friend Natalie visits us from Massachusetts every summer. The visit is a tradition that began when we left the Bay State almost two decades ago at the conclusion of our familys five-year New England experience.

A trip to Amish Country is, of course, prominent among the excursions the two take each year to explore Ohio. Though it seems counterintuitive, the historic charms of Amish Country always seem fresh and new.

Certainly that is the message we receive from you as we regularly serve as the guide for your own trips. This month, we head to Amish Country for homemade gifts for the holiday season. Our favorite expert on the subject, longtime Ohio Magazine writer Sue Gorisek, tells you about some of the must stops to make your trip complete. Her cover story, Shopping Made Simple, begins on page 86. Photography on the cover and inside is by Thom Sivo.

This month we also put a fresh perspective on the art of getting around — comfortably — for your various explorations into the beauty, the adventure and the fun of Ohio. “Glide & Go,” beginning on page 99, brings you up to speed (literally and figuratively) on the phenomenon of the Segway Personal Transporter.

As writer Kate Harold explains, Segways are those two-wheeled things that look like so much fun when you see police officers riding around on them in tourist spots. Now, everybody seems to be getting in on the fun.

Its easy to learn how to navigate, Kate says. The more you lean, the faster you go, she writes. Within minutes, a childlike grin sets in and you begin cruising all on your own.

As you take your tour, however, just remember to stop, disembark and enjoy the sights, sounds and scenery along the way.Green Energy Ohio (GEO), the outstanding organization devoted to promoting renewable energy technology in homes and buildings, plans an altogether different kind of tour for you early next month. In this issue, the Ohio Solar Tour is featured in a four-page special section beginning after page 32.

The event, sponsored by Duke Energy Ohio and AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power, spotlights more than 200 homes and businesses. The tour takes place on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4.

As GEO Executive Director Bill Spratley puts it, this is your opportunity to kick the tires by visiting homes and buildings that are models of energy efficiency and savings. Read the section to learn more about this unique event, and then follow up with a visit to GreenEnergyOhio.org. Or call toll-free, 866/GREEN-OH.